How do you get rid of and prevent getting rootworm ?

I've recently started my own allotment what was once an over grown grassed area. Now I've done all the hard work of digging it over and planting veggies I've started finding little yellowey worms around 1" long. A fellow gardener as told me that it could be root worm. Is this true, if so how do I get rid of them and prevent them from returning ?

16 Apr, 2009

Answers

I think that you are describing what I call wireworms, Wottie. They are the larva of the click beetle. They do chwe through plant roots but I don't know a control method appart from killing them when you dig them up.

Yes I agree with Bulbaholic, they are wireworms left in the ground after digging out the grass. They take up to 4 years to become adults. Soil pesticide will taint vegetables. Bait your ground with pieces of carrot or potato on a stick (inspect it daily). Another method is to sow a line of corn between your rows of potatoes. When the corn is infested pull it up and burn it.